The Best Roti in Toronto

The best roti in Toronto encompasses both Indian and Caribbean varieties, meaning the choice is yours if you prefer butter chicken to jerk chicken. While the definition of roti might refer specifically to the bread, here in Toronto, a roti is synonymous with a wrap stuffed with rich curries or stews.

Almost two dozen varieties of Indian roti can be found on the menu at this barebones gem on Queen West. Sure, the place looks a little worn, and their DineSafe record is dubious, but all that is inversely proportionate to the deliciousness of their over-stuffed saag paneer ($8.95) and butter chicken ($11.95) roti. More »

Roti at this Parkdale fixture are pricier than most - basic chicken, mutton or beef hovers around the $10 mark while combinations like chicken with spinach, squash and potatoes come in at $12.25. As a unique twist, you can add cheese to any roti for $1.50. More »

This open kitchen and take-out operation in Scarborough makes their own soft, pliable roti skins in house (and sells them to other roti shops too). Fill them up to order at the hot table with mélange of potatoes, curried vegetables and stewed meats (from $6), or just order a multitude of veggie options ($5.50) to be swiped up with torn bits of dahlpuri or parartha. More »

The lively Rexdale stalwart isn't fancy, but a new location recently opened at Yonge and Eg boasts a charming bistro setting. Menu favourites include Caribbean specialties like boneless curry goat ($9) wrapped in dhalpuri roti or served with paratha on the side. More »

While there’s no shortage of roti options in Scarborough, this one stands out as one of the best. The menu lists the usual suspects like boneless curry goat ($9.95), stewed beef ($9.95), and hearty, veggie-friendly selections such as spinach and pumpkin ($8.45). When available, you’ll even find Island specialties like conch. More »

Find great value at this West Indian eatery with two outposts and roots in Toronto dating back to 1974. The menu offers Trinidadian style roti, priced around $8 and packed with potatoes, channa, and tender chunks of boneless goat or chicken in rich gravy. More »

Two locations (one on College, the other on Queen) offer a contemporary setting to grab a stool and enjoy roti filled-to-bursting with a choice of over two dozen Indian curries. These roti are pricy but enormous - the signature butter chicken sells for $11.95, while vegetarian options like aloo mutter start at $6.95. More »

The expansive menu at this East-Indian eatery on Dupont leaves nothing for want - almost every type of roti you could imagine is available. Choose from over a dozen vegetarian options like the dal pakora roti ($8) or baingan bhurtha ($10) eggplant roti, plus an additional 10 roti for meat eaters, like rich lamb curry ($9), or chicken tikka ($9). More »

Locations on Church St. and Queens Quay serve up Indian takeout foods like lamb korma ($11), chicken jalfrizi ($10), and various vegetarian roti ($7 and up). House favourites include the unusual malai kofta roti ($10), loaded with potato dumplings, grated cheese, and thick yellow gravy. More »

Gandhi recently got a conditional pass. Butter Chicken Roti has too many new employees so they have no idea what's going on (I asked for Malai Kofta roti WHICH IS ON THEIR WEBSITE) and none of the two people there had any idea what it was). Pam meat roti tastes really good but the veggie tasted very funny, as if they were spoiled. Venas was pretty good but a little bland. Bacchus was quite nice when I had it. Alis was bland the last time I had it. Island foods is inconsistent but can be the best when they get it all right.

Roti is just the skin that holds a bunch of toppings (or none at all). Doubles are served in a roti shell, saheena is deep fried roti with spinach, etc.
If you were to ask for a chicken roti in TT, they'd ask for clarification. "Do you want chicken with a roti, in the roti or with rice?" Most places would probably just give you a bunch of curry chicken with a roti on the side, unless you're an obvious tourist.

Mayor of Parkdale for the win. I was about to post Mother India and Roti Lady in Parkdale. And for anyone put off by Gandhi's dine safe record, Mother India is their sister restaurant, very clean (and much friendlier staff), and the quality of their Indian curry roti is better than Gandhi's.

As for the new location of Butter Chicken Roti on Queen W., yeah their staff need some training. Nowhere near the quality of the College St. location.

So. While your Roti article is amusing it is inaccurate. There is no way Island Foods should be on this list. Ali's is not mentioned? Seriously? Also mysteriously absent from this list are any number of shop's in the East End, Rexdale or Eglinton West. You should rename this article "Roti Top Ten for People Who Have No Clue".

As a Trini myself I'm not even slightly sure what you're talking about. If I ask for roti I'd expect roti & meat/veggies. Doubles are channa and barra; I've never heard anyone call it roti. And saheena is even further removed from roti - it is spinach dredged in dal flour and deep fried. You might as well start calling TimBits, pakoras, pholouri, dumplings, beignets, etc. all roti too if you're considering all deep fried flour foods to be roti.

I really love the roti at Babu's which is in the same plaza as Mona's. A combination of their roti, chili chicken and some sour cream to cut the heat is really nice (probably not what a Sri Lankan would do, but whatever!).

Just tried Butter Chicken Roti. Not sure it deserves its place on this list. Price was on par with others. Wasn't happy with the quality or portion size. Too much cumin in everything. Convenient location, but I'm going back to Roti Cuisine of India.

Interesting attempt at trolling but if you're actually being serious, would it make you feel a little better knowing that the Caribbean is a rich melting pot and that Caribbean people of Amerindian, East Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and European descent also eat roti?!

How is Drupatis on this list? They are well known for their doubles but that's it. Not only is their customer service atrocious, their roti is a culinary disaster. If you want best doubles, go to Drupatis, you want best roti? Walk next door and go to Roti-Roti.

Doubles definitely "should" be barra, but most of the roadside stands don't bother, same goes with Saheena. Out of 15 different stands I went to last week, barra was only available at one (sooo much better!), the rest just served it on a flat roti shell without any dhal puri.

As far as your expectation for what Roti is, I'm not sure why you'd expect that as it's often just served on the side.

Ali's for West Indian, Mother India or Gandhi for East Indian.
Used to like Bacchus but they dropped off because they didn't trim their goat and use meat from a cheap source.
Vena's is pretty awesome as well. Great flavor and their veggies are delish.
Ritz, no.
Butter Chicken Roti is just some dudes that copy Gandhi as is half the other guys on the list so you can't really give them credit when they use someone else's recipe.

I am very surprised that Ali's didn't make the list and Drupati's did! Ali's has a clean restaurant and great food. I've been to several Drupati's and was disappointed each time (in more ways than one)!

Looks like the research was pretty tight to one area, blue water in the east end and the real jerk are better than a lot of these. Drupatis also has a location in Scarborough, I still can't find anywhere that can compare to their doubles

This list pisses me off. How can you show a roti with peas on it?! Or state that a store that offers roti with cheese is no 2. WTH?!!! Real rotis NEVER have cheese.

Modern day Roti - the roti wrap that most people know and consume originated from Trinidad. NOT India. Caribbean rotis mix of spices are totally different. Our curries are totally different. Indian rotis are whack and no one raised on the real stuff likes East Indian rotis. I don't enjoy that red curry crap they sell at Ghandi's, it's an offense to my tastebuds.

Next time, make a list of best West Indian rotis and another one for the best East Indian rotis in Toronto. So not to mislead people.

Don't want to follow one of your recommendations and end up wasting my money on a some crap.

Roti Time on St. Clair West east of Jane St. was a glaring omission on this list. It's a once a week visit for my household. Must be at least two dozen variety with the option of mild, medium or spicy for each one. East Indian roti at it's finest.

Vena's made the best roti in town when they were on Queen West bar none. Their squash/spinach roti was amazing, and I've never had one from anywhere else that comes close. Most places don't even have squash as an option. They closed 10 or 15 years ago, which would have been a tragedy if not for the fact that Ghandi showed up to fill in the gap in the Queen/Bathurst neighborhood. Very deserving of the number 1 spot on this list. As for Vena's, it turned out that they didn't close for good, they just moved to Bloor and Lansdowne. Their absence from this list is noticeable. Have they gone downhill since the move, or is blogTO just missing out? Also noticeably absent is Ali's. And yet Island Foods makes the list. Their rotis are tasty, but I wouldn't rank them with Ghandi, Ali's, or Vena's.